Did you know my Dad? He was a renowned economist. Well, actually, he was just a rural mail carrier.

When he died unexpectedly at 44 in 1969, our beautiful custom brick home had already been paid off. Afterwards, Mom sent me to Clemson, and my brother to both Clemson and MUSC. Many Baby Boomers can tell similar stories.

My dad’s highest salary then was typical, approximately $10,000 a year.

My first visit to the barbershop was at 18, after my Dad died, as he had always cut my hair to save the “outrageous” $1.25 barbers charged.

Mom would buy Dixie Darlin’ bread on sale when she could save 10 cents a loaf, and hoarded it in the freezer for months. My uncle even got it free for us sometimes when the sell-by date had passed.

Growing up in large farm families, Mom and Dad quickly learned that hard work, sacrifice and saving initially meant survival, and later, success.

Today, Mom is financially comfortable. It’s so ironic that our nation is relying on, and actually dependent on her and her friends’ 3 percent CDs, and money market savings accounts.

Could anyone have guessed that the mere survival of our vast economy would be directly attributable to the savings from $1.25 haircuts and frozen Dixie Darlin’ bread ?

Did you folks at Harvard know my dad? He was a renowned economist. If he was still here, he should be your keynote speaker.

Barry Lee Stewart, Anderson